  SPECIES SURVIVAL COMMISSION |
Tapir Conservation
The Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group
Volume 9, Number 1, June 1999
See Table of Contents
Colombia
Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii)
Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris)
Baird's tapir (Tapirus pinchaque)
Footprint investigation delayed
An expedition into the Farallones has been postponed until July or August due to the exceptionally heavy rains. Emilio Constantino reports that La Niña has produced the wettest season in several decades. In a joint project with the Tapir Preservation Fund, Emilio will lead an expedition into the Farallones to make casts of tapir footprints, hoping that they might be identified by a comparison with the prints of animals whose species is known.
This project also hopes to establish a footprint bank with the goal of helping researchers identify prints in areas where more than one tapir species may exist or where it is not known which species inhabits the area. We hope that differences observed in the feet of tapirs will be observable as noticeable differences in the tracks.
Emilio Constantino
Advisor
National Network of Private Reserves of the Civilian Society
Colombia
http://cali.cetcol.net.co/~resnatur/
emilio@cali.cetcol.net.co
Sheryl Todd
Tapir Preservation Fund
tapir@tapirback.com
Brasil
Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris)
Tapirs studied in forest fragments
While Patrícia Medici returns to the University for a year to obtain her Masters degree, her study continues in the Pontal do Paranapanema region of western Brazil under the guidance of Laury Cullen. Returning as often as possible to take part in the work, Patrícia plans to remove the collar from "Joana," the first tapir to be captured. The collar will have been in place for two years in June, 1999. While the batteries can last up to three years, Patrícia does not want to risk having tapirs in the field with collars whose batteries have gone dead. In addition, she has collected considerable data over the two years. Tapirs have been tracked going into and out of Moro do Diabo State Park, using the forest fragments outside the park as "stepping stones."
Additional tapirs will remain in the study until their two years are up. At the beginning of May, "Docinho," another female, was seen with a young calf. When caught, Docinho was considered to be the youngest of the collared animals.
Contact:
Patrícia Medici
Rua Curvelo, 132, apto. 812
Bairro Floresta
Belo Horizonte
Minas Gerais, CEP: 31010-000
Brasil
epmedici@uol.com.br
Ecuador
Mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque)
Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris)
Craig C. Downer reports
The translocation project in northern Ecuador is still in progress, and a report will be made when it is completed. I am preparing to purchase fencing materials partially with funds from TPF's Club Tapir.
Additonal activities during recent weeks have included giving presentations both in Moran and La Bonita (three total here). The La Bonita area is particularly important for the survival of the mountain tapir and has some beautiful forests. I am in touch with a group of young people here who want to create a reserve and to conduct ecotourism. This activity has the potential to gain strongholds for the tapirs. However, funding is necessary to secure this area.
At the end of February, I gave two presentations in Quito and was invited to give one at the South American Explorers Club. Talk have also been given in Sucumbios, Monte Olivo, and Carchi, where I also had a chance to show film footage of the tapirs. In these areas there was no knowledge that it was illegal to kill the mountain tapirs, and recent kills were reported. We even met with the hunters, telling them it was against the law to hunt this seriously endangered species.
The political situation has been quite tense with the currency devaluating and three political assassinations. There is worry about guerrilla infiltration from the Colombian side and three North Americans were kidnapped by FARC just over the border in Colombia. They were trying to defend the rights of the U'we Indians.
I have made a nationwide radio address on the mountain tapir on Radio Colon recently and am scheduled to give a major talk in Quito in mid May, which is now being publicized. A national TV station also is intending to cover the translocation operation.
Craig C. Downer
Andean Tapir Fund
PO Box 456
Minden Nevada 89423 USA
ccdowner@olemail.com
Nuñez continues education programs
Ruben Nuñez reports that in March and April he initiated a number of conservation education conferences in schools, mostly outside of towns on the borders of Sangay and Llanganates National Parks. He has also spoken in the communities of Chin Chin, La Merced, El Topo, El Placer, Rio Verde, Machay, Rio Negro, Bilbao, Juive Grande, Juive Chico, Puela, and others. Pamphlets about mountain tapirs are distributed at the talks. Work continues to help community members become aware of the value of maintaining wildlife and habitat while sustaining themselves in these poverty-stricken areas.
Contact:
Rubén Wilfrido Núñez Sánchez
Rocafuerte 806 y Juan León Mera
Barrio Ecologico 5 de Junio
Baños, Tungurahua, Ecuador
Peru
Mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque)
Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris)
Tapirus pinchaque to be studied
Jessica Amanzo Alcantara, of the Museo de Historia Natural in Lima, is undertaking a study to determine how many Andean tapirs might remain in the north of Peru. The actual situation is unknown, and estimates are outdated. Her study takes place in the departments of Piura, Cajamarca and La Libertad, the only places this species could exist in Peru. The National Sanctuary of Tabaconas-Namballe, located in the Dept. of Cajamarca, maintains the objective of conservation and protection of this species, which is under enormous threat of extinction. However, before any work can be done, it is necessary to make a diagnostic study of the tapir situation.
The objectives of this study are:
- To determine the status of the Andean tapir population in the Sanctuary and in the surrounding areas,
- To determine habitat availability and quality,
- To determine threats to this species.
- Tracks: morphometric measurements, to estimate the population size.
- Habitat analysis, to learn preferences of habitat features.
- Aerial photographs to determine habitat availability
- Interview local people.
The project is partially funded by INRENA (National Institute of Natural Resources, Peru). The first period of the project begins in May 1999.
Jessica Amanzo Alcantara
Departamento de Mastozoologia
Museo de Historia Natural
AP. 14-0434
Lima 14, Peru
jessica_amanzo@yahoo.com
CONTACTS
Chair: Patrícia Medici
Deputy Chair: Sheryl Todd
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